Comments Please - Thinking of starting business

[drizzle]

For over three years I've worked for local repair shops on everything from printers to laptops to various home & business systems. Only four months ago, I started working at my current job. I'm in the IS department now for a communications contracting company--working mainly on laptops. I'm putting in about 55/60hrs/week and I'm starting to realize that I'm not enjoying the work. I don't feel that I'm actually using my best skills. I would love to go back to doing repair work on PCs but I just couldn't bear going back to work for someone else. If i'd do it-it would have to be on my own. What I would like to do is start the business out of my home-doing on-site repair/upgrades/etc for mostly businesses & some home users. I've always had companies request me for return work and that was one of the coolest things...

Anyway, what I want to know is if there is anyone else out there that is/was in a similar situation as mine, and what you did? I know several ways of obtaining customers but I'm wanting to know how other people have done it, and any type of suggestions that you all may be able to pass on to it.

And the final thing that makes me want to go back and do this on my own is because there really isn't anyone/place in this town that does quality work!

Sorry that this post is soooo long it's just something i've been meaning to get around to. /forum/smile.gif

[welsh wizard]

First
find out about all the local taxes and legal requirments, goverment officials love to S@@w you around, but if you ask them for help it's magic, they get all puffy and normally go out of their way to help, with advice on tax allowances, whats deductable and so on.

Second,
try by starting out part time, till you get a good client base, it will eventualy take over from presant work commitments.

Third
don't play at it, it will take over your life, but man at the end of the days youve done something you can be proud of.

Fourth,
don't plan on being rich at first or getting rich overnight, and latter don't be gready, give a fair deal for a fair price.

WW



[This message has been edited by welsh wizard (edited 11-11-1999).]